IN-DEPTH FEATURESRav Yisroel Salanter's Teachings In Yerushalayim -- The
Beis Hamussar and Yeshivas Or Chodosh, Founded By Talmidim Of
The Alter Of Kelm

by B. Re'eim

120th Yahrtzeit of HaRav Yisroel Salanter: 25 Shvat

From Kelm To The Old City

In his introduction to HaRav Yisroel Salanter's Or
Yisroel, HaRav Yitzchok Blazer zt'l writes that
some of the greatest among his rebbe's talmidim,
"followed his holy path and worked to spread his teachings
and his goodly approach to mussar to benefit the
public and to draw their souls closer to the study of the
fear of Heaven and of mussar. A spark of this light
also went to illuminate the east, the holy site, Tzion
and Yerushalayim. There too, there was a remnant to whom
Hashem called, disciples of his disciples, who dwell in the
tent of Torah and engage in Torah debate. They instituted the
holy path of the study of mussar and yir'oh
among themselves and through them, light shone forth. May
they succeed in swelling their ranks, through Torah and the
pure fear of Heaven."

Yerushalayim over a hundred years ago was peopled
predominantly by the members of the old yishuv. It was
a town filled with Torah sages and righteous Jews, whose days
and nights were devoted to Torah, prayer and serving Hashem.
This article examines how the disciples of Kelm established
their Beis Hamussar and the niche that it established
and the manner in which the residents of the holy city
received it.

The Founders

Two outstanding talmidim of the Alter of Kelm
zt'l, HaRav Shmuel Hillel Sheinker zt'l, and
HaRav Boruch Marcus zt'l (who later became rov of
Haifa), arrived in Yerushalayim in 5652 (1892) (nine years
after Rav Yisroel Salanter's petiroh)) settling in
Chotzer Strauss in the Old City. This was a spacious yard
surrounded by houses that was home to many outstanding Torah
scholars and mussar luminaries.

The chotzer was built by the well-to-do and righteous
Rav Shmuel Strauss zt'l. Among its residents were
HaRav Blazer (Rav Itzele Peterburger) himself and HaRav
Naftoli Amsterdam zt'l, both of whom were among Rav
Yisroel Salanter's closest talmidim. The Or
Torah journal, published by Yeshivas Or Chodosh in 5659
(1899) contains a dedication to, "the rov and man of means,
the tzaddik, one of the individuals in whom Klal
Yisroel can glory, Reb Shmuel Strauss, who purchased a
large courtyard and settled young rabbonim in it, supporting
them with his every means; he merited that the sound of Torah
of gedolei Yisroel in his chotzer is never
interrupted."

The newcomers opened a Beis Hamussar in the
chotzer, which attracted the residents of Yerushalayim
who thirsted for any and every extra drop of yiras
Shomayim. Later, in 5657 (1897), Yeshivas Or Chodosh was
opened. In time, "it became a kollel and was an
important center for Torah and mussar, with the Torah
journal Or Torah being published by HaRav Avrohom
Aharon Sonnenfeld zt'l (a son of HaRav Yosef Chaim
Sonnenfled zt'l).

Rav Sheinker was closely connected to the mussar
movement. He was the son of the gaon and
tzaddik HaRav Avrohom Tan'is Sheinker zt'l, one
of Rav Yisroel's greatest talmidim. In 5642 (1882) as
an eight- year-old, Rav Shmuel Sheinker had received a
blessing from Rav Yisroel Salanter, in the last year of the
latter's life. Rav Yisroel had rested his hands upon the
child and blessed him.

Seventy years later in 5713 (1953), Rav Shmuel Hillel
participated in a large gathering of scholars of Torah and
mussar held in Yeshivas Meah Sheorim in Yerushalayim.
HaRav Eliyohu Dessler zt'l opened his remarks by
mentioning that he was speaking in the presence of Rav
Shmuel, who had merited making Rav Yisroel's acquaintance and
who, as a talmid of the Alter of Kelm, had followed
his rebbe's instructions and opened the first Beis
Hamussar in Yerushalayim which had been a training ground
for the great personalities of Yerushalayim who developed
within it.

From the letters they wrote in support of the Beis
Hamussar, it is clear that the gedolei Torah of
Eretz Yisroel esteemed it very highly. Rav Blazer wrote that
it was, "a firm bastion for Torah and yir'oh." HaRav
Moshe Mordechai Epstein zt'l,rosh yeshivas
Knesses Yisroel-Chevron wrote, "Much Torah-light has emanated
from this fine institution, which was founded to further
Torah and yir'oh in the holy city."

In 5685 (1925), HaRav Shimon Shkop zt'l wrote in a
letter that he wished to settle in Eretz Yisroel and that he
was looking for a means of disseminating Torah there. His
friend HaRav Yehuda Leib Chasman zt'l mentioned
Yeshivas Or Chodosh to him and asked Rav Yosef Chaim
Sonnenfeld's opinion as to Reb Shimon's suitability for the
institution. HaRav Chaim Ozer Grodzensky zt'l also
lent the yeshiva his support, as did the Gerrer Rebbe the
Imrei Emes zt'l, HaRav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky
zt'l and other gedolim.

In the winter of 5659 (1899), the scholars of the beis
hamedrash asked HaRav Sonnenfeld to accept the position
of rosh yeshiva, to which he agreed. He headed both
the yeshiva and the kollel, delivering shiurim
regularly for many years and guiding the students in every
respect. Prior to every shiur, he would learn a
chapter from Chovos Halevovos and on occasion, he
would also convey guidance about how to learn. When HaRav
Sonnenfeld grew older, the yeshiva was relocated to Botei
Machseh in the Old City, close to his home. HaRav Sonnenfeld
continued giving shiurim until his petiroh on
the nineteenth of Adar 5692 (1932).

HaRav Chaim Soloveitchik zt'l of Brisk also penned
several very enthusiastic letters about the Beis
Hamussar. In 5669 (1909) he wrote that it was,
"established according to the spirit and the approach of the
teacher and luminary of Yisroel, our master Rav Yisroel of
Salant zy'a, and is presided over by the great and
well- known gaon HaRav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld and his
son-in- law . . . HaRav Shmuel Hillel Sheinker. It is a
great and mighty bastion of talmidei chachomim who are
great in Torah and yir'oh and are adorned with all the
traits that Chazal enumerated for Torah's acquisition. It is
one of the most distinguished and important institutions,
where there is a gathering of G-d-fearing sages among the
finest in Yerushalayim."

In 5671 (1911) HaRav Shmuel Hillel travelled abroad on behalf
of the yeshiva. He spent approximately a year in Brisk, where
he stayed in Reb Chaim's home. Reb Chaim wrote to the leaders
of the generation, asking them to assist Rav Shmuel
Hillel.

Letters From Kelm

The Alter of Kelm, HaRav Simcha Zissel Ziv zt'l, who
was the impetus for the founding of the Beis Hamussar,
sent thirty-eight discourses to the scholars who gathered
there. The group would meet together every Friday and one of
them would read out the piece that had been received from
HaRav Simcha Zissel. The Alter's son, HaRav Nochum Zev Ziv
zt'l, wrote in a letter to HaRav Shmuel Hillel, "Know,
my dear friend that you are holding onto great wealth and
riches -- sufficient for several generations -- in the form
of thirty-eight ma'amorim that are full of wisdom and
mussar from the holy lips of our master, Father,
z'l."

Some of the discourses that HaRav Simcha Zissel sent to
Yerushalayim are printed in Chochmoh Umussar. In
Volume I, ma'amar 36, HaRav Simcha Zissel writes to
his son, "This ma'amar should be entitled, "Ashrei
Odom Mefacheid Tomid" (Happy Is The Man Who Is Always
Fearful). Write this at the top of the ma'amar and
send it straight to Eretz Yisroel, to Yerushalayim . . . to .
. . and his agreeable group, who are very precious to me, for
they respect the honor of the holy city."

At the end of ma'amar 408, HaRav Simcha Zissel writes,
"I have received a letter from Yerushalayim . . . [informing
me] that they are taking guidance from one another and
learning from one another. Happy is their lot. Copy out this
ma'amar for them, so that they can see the great level
of those who train themselves. I will write to them [telling
them] that I was glad with what they wrote. Please don't
forget that we discussed the occasional practical application
of Chazal's statement, `Therefore the rulers say . . . '
(Bovo Basra 78). "

And at the end of ma'amar 160, he writes, "My friends,
members of the chaburah in Yerushalayim . . . I want
to inform you that this ma'amar is so precious to me,
that I only give it to those who are prepared to pay money
for it. For only then do I know that they truly cherish
divrei Torah. I am sending it to you however, for free
and I have written the explanation in your honor."

HaRav Simcha Zissel yearned to join the group in
Yerushalayim. In ma'amar 216 he wrote, "Let me say [to
you] in writing, residents of the holy city, who dwell at
Heaven's gate, by the holy mountain -- happy are you that you
have merited this. Would that I had a dove's wings to [fly
and] dwell with you as part of your group. How can I express
the enormity of Hashem's kindness to you, in enabling you to
bring [your wishes] to fruition, to occupy yourselves with
what is most precious to Him, in His holy place? If my health
were good, I would travel to our holy Land and join your
chaburah." (See the accompanying box for more of Rav
Simcha Zissel's communications to Yerushalayim.)

In The Face of Opposition

As suggested at the beginning of the article, the Beis
Hamussar was an innovation in Yerushalayim of a century
ago and as such, it encountered some opposition and
disapproval. One of the arguments advanced against it was
that man's duty was to learn Torah with the aim of arriving
at the practical halochoh, not to engage in the study
of mussar.

Among the gedolim of Yerushalayim were those who were
suspicious of ideas that had no direct tradition from
previous generations. They looked askance on the Beis
Hamussar and even advised their followers not to go
there. One of the gedolim who did frequent the Beis
Hamussar, HaRav Yonah Rom, once told HaRav Yosef Chaim
Sonnenfeld that even among tzaddikim, a difference
could be discerned between those who learned mussar
and those who did not. Those who didn't learn mussar
knew what was forbidden, while those who did, knew what
should be done.

The gaon HaRav Yehoshua Leib Diskin zt'l was
also approached by the maligners of the Beis Hamussar.
His talmid, HaRav Sonnenfeld, came to R' Yehoshua
Leib's home bearing a copy of the newspaper Hatzefirah
containing a lengthy diatribe against the idea of
mussar, which he wanted to show his rebbe. As soon as
Rav Yehoshua Leib saw the paper -- which was known as a
mouthpiece of the maskilim -- in his talmid's
hands, he cried, "An impure paper is in my home!"

He instructed Reb Chaim to take it out and stand four
amos away from the entrance and read it to him from
there. Shortly thereafter, R' Yehoshua Leib published a
letter warmly supporting the Beis Hamussar.

Following Rav Yehoshua Leib's petiroh (in Shevat 5658
[1898] ), the gedolim of Yerushalayim sent the
following appraisal of the Beis Hamussar's influence
to HaRav Salomon Breuer zt'l, the rov of Frankfurt-am-
Main. "We have decided to present the truth," they wrote,
"which we have witnessed ourselves. Recently, the light of
mussar has also spread through our holy city. We see
it as a new light [with potential] for strengthening Torah
and religion. It is well known that the true gaon . .
. the holy [Rav] Yisroel Salanter, sacrificed himself for
the spread of the idea of mussar, to the point where
it spread to virtually all the yeshivos in Russia. In our
holy city too, many who study Torah assiduously have taken up
mussar study and they notice an improvement in their
learning."

In the course of the campaign against the Beis
Hamussar, HaRav Shmuel Hillel Sheinker was defamed. His
father-in-law HaRav Sonnenfeld published the following
letter: " `Hashem will not agree to forgive him.' He deserves
to be placed under a ban; apparently he nurses hatred. I have
informed him in the past that this holy yeshiva was literally
the glory of Yerushalayim . . . unequalled in the benefit
that it gave. Jealousy and the evil eye gained the upper hand
and led to discord. Nevertheless, it is still correct and a
holy obligation to make as much effort as possible and may
those who speak falsehood be shamed and disgraced forever.
The rov and great luminary, storehouse of Torah and fear of
Heaven, HaRav Shmuel Hillel Sheinker -- son of the well known
tzaddik . . . Rav Avrohom Tanis of Kovno -- my son-in-
law, who is as dear to me as a son, who treads in perfect
faith; the zealots' hand has gained mastery over him, in our
sins . . . "

After Rav Sonnenfeld's petiroh (in 5692), the students
of Yeshivas Or Chodosh issued a letter in which they wrote,
"a group . . . has arisen that has brazenly dared to
disgrace our master the holy gaon. With evil designs,
[it] has spread slander and is attempting to undermine our
yeshiva's existence, using devious means, draping themselves
in scholar's garb in an attempt to bedeck evil and injustice
in the coat of fairness . . . Let this serve as an open
protest, a strict warning and a valiant call to all those who
fear Hashem's word. Let all who fear for their souls take
care not to be burned by the coals of this tzaddik,
Hashem's holy one. May those who speak falsehood be disgraced
forever . . . signed by the gabboim and directors of
the yeshiva."

There was an additional factor in the opposition to the
Beis Hamussar. Although Yerushalayim then was a place
which flourished spiritually and was adorned by the presence
of many great geonim, its material living conditions
were very sparse. There was fear that the idea was to open a
new institution and use it as a means of profiteering. The
first quarrels began after Rav Simcha Zissel's petiroh
(on the eighth of Av 5658 [1898]).

The Alter's brother, HaRav Avrohom Yosef Broide zt'l,
wrote in a letter, "Rather than this yeshiva's standing out
among all of Yerushalayim's yeshivos, as it did when it was
running properly while my teacher and rebbe, my
brother [i.e. the Alter] was alive, who was respected by all
the city's leaders and residents, now the opposite is the
case. Would that it be like all the other yeshivos, each of
which sits quietly in its place and occupies itself with
Torah. I am really upset about this, for throughout the
world, virtually nothing like this exists -- a well-
established institution solely for baalei mussar. Nor
is there another unique figure like Reb Shmuel Strauss [who
owned the Chotzer] anywhere in the world, one of the
great supporters of the generation, who consented back then
to my brother's proposal and agreed to him, to allow
gedolei Torah who occupy themselves with Torah and the
study of mussar, to dwell in his wonderful house."

In Later Years

Despite all the opposition, the yeshiva continued. A calendar
issued by the yeshiva in 5716 (1956--the last year of HaRav
Shmuel Sheinker's life), contains a copy of an article that
appeared in a Yerushalmi newspaper on the sixth of Nisan 5632
following Rav Sonnenfeld's petiroh, which called to
the public, "See what toil the tzaddik . . . Rav
Sonnenfeld . . . invested in establishing the holy yeshiva
Or Chodosh. A heavenly voice therefore issues from Har
Tzion declaring, `Arouse yourselves and make a point of
making a memorial for the soul of the gaon and
tzaddik of the generation . . . supporting the
wonderful yeshiva Or Chodosh with all your strength and
power." The message is accompanied by Rav Sonnenfeld's
blessing to supporters of the yeshiva.

Rav Shmuel Hillel Sheinker maintained his relationship with
Kelm throughout his life. He corresponded with HaRav Reuven
Dov Dessler zt'l inquiring about what was happening in
the Kelm Talmud Torah. In one of his letters (dated 5688
[1928]), Rav Shmuel Hillel wrote, "That tzaddik [the
Alter] fulfilled Chazal's statement, `You are in Netzivin but
your net is spread [as far away as] in Yerushalayim'
(Pesochim 3). Our master . . . devoted the remnant of
his strength, with his life's blood, to the sowing of the
light of mussar in Yerushalayim."

And in 5707 (1947) he wrote to his grandson, who had left
Yeshivas Chevron and moved to Yeshivas Pardes Channah, "He
had calmed his spirit because he knew that [among] the
maggidei shiur there were the gaon HaRav
Zevulun Graz zt'l who was one of the finest products
of the mussar yeshivos and a son of HaRav Nesanel
Yosef Graz zt'l, who had been a talmid of
Klal Yisroel's holy gaon, prince of Torah and
mussar . . . HaRav Simchah Zissel zy'a of
Kelm, who had learned in Kelm in 5650 . . . "

(The writer would like to thank HaRav Yehuda Sheinker for his
great help in the preparation of this article.)

There is No Doubt That This Place is Particularly Suited
to Mussar Study . . .

Some of the ma'amorim that Rav Simchah Zissel sent to
the Beis Hamussar in Yerushalayim express the great
esteem in which he held the place. Here are some more quotes
from those ma'amorim, taken from Chochmoh
Umussar vol. I

"Some time ago, I sent two wonderful letters regarding a
matter which arose spontaneously concerning the Beis
Hamussar in Yerushalayim . . . the gateway to heaven; to
thank Hashem and to be involved in that which is important in
His eyes. This matter is so important [especially] at the
gateway to heaven, the place from which the world was
founded. It centers upon the posuk that we always say,
`Train the youth according to his way; even when he is old,
he will not veer from it' (Mishlei 22:6), meaning that
a person should be used to educating and training himself.
Then, even in his old age he will be used to this art of
educating himself according to his path and he will
[continually] ascend higher and higher.

"This is not the case with someone who is not used to
training himself; he doesn't know how to educate himself.
This is the virtue of mussar -- to become used to
education. This study is especially precious in Yerushalayim
. . . where the Keruvim were, and there is no doubt
that this place is particularly suited to mussar
study. Heaven has left them room in which to build, in
this area."

" `And he bought the portion of the field', (Bereishis
33:19). Rabbi Avrohom Ibn Ezra writes: `The posuk
mentions this in order to tell us the great virtue of Eretz
Yisroel. If someone has a portion there, it is as though he
has a portion in Olom Habo.' In this vein I say to
you, my beloved ones, happy are you to have merited building
a home for wisdom in Eretz Yisroel, particularly in
Yerushalayim . . . a house that cultivates fear of Heaven,
which is `His treasure' which Hakodosh Boruch Hu loves
especially in His treasure house. The shape of this house is
one's main portion in the Land. Hashem will certainly assist
you, in this world and the next, to succeed. The main thing
is to try and learn mussar, with comprehension and
understanding, to study mussar carefully."

"Yesterday I received a letter from Yerushalayim . . . I
want to tell you that this fine Beis Hamussar that you
opened is growing stronger. Happy are you, who dwell in the
holy city. Happy are you, in giving pleasure to our Father in
heaven, in trying in the holy city to do what He has asked of
us, as the posuk says, `What is Hashem . . . asking
of you, but to fear Him?' (Devorim 10:12)"

Mussar -- The Only Path That Has Maintained Its
Integrity

HaRav Yisroel Salanter's hundred and twentieth yahrtzeit
is a fitting occasion for reminding ourselves of the
obligation to learn mussar. We present some of HaRav
Shach's remarks on the subject, as quoted in Machsheves
Mussar:

A set time has been fixed for learning mussar, during
which one has a definite obligation -- there is no greater
obligation -- to learn mussar.

It is said that once after having heard Rav Yisroel Salanter
zt'l speak about the need to learn mussar,
someone asked him what he should learn in the only half hour
a day that he had available for learning: Chayei Odom
or mussar? Rav Yisroel replied that he should learn
mussar, for then he would see that he had more than
half an hour a day for learning.

One has to learn mussar; it doesn't matter from which
sefer. We have nothing to be ashamed of in [any of]
them. The main thing is to reflect on them, in order to
assimilate their outlook and way of viewing things, rather
than looking at men of the world whose outlook is corrupt;
everything is filled with dirt. The only place one can find a
little cleanliness is with bnei Torah" (pg. 419).

*

It is impossible to achieve anything without fear of Heaven.
If one comes across someone who doesn't contemplate yiras
Shomayim, even if he is great in Torah, if his yiras
Shomayim is not as it should be, one can imagine the very
worst about him . . . It doesn't absolve one from learning
mussar, because mussar leads to a more personal
arousal towards good traits (pg. 174).

*

At the levaya of HaRav Nochum Abba Grosbard
zt'l in Shevat 5753, HaRav Shach said, "Rabbosai,
rabbosai, mussar is the only thing. I am speaking in a
holy place and I'm telling you that none of the different
approaches -- and there have been many -- have merits with
which to exist today. Mussar is the only thing that
remains uncontaminated by other things. Mussar is
unsullied and has nothing added, because there is only
one unvarnished truth, namely, that man takes himself
to account. Nowadays, everything has been forgotten -- though
I speak, I don't know if I am being understood --
nonetheless, I am saying what I feel very strongly . . . the
Mashgiach was one of the few who remained. Even in his day he
was unique. Now that the Mashgiach has gone, we are just left
with remnants; something though, was once there . . .

*

In a letter dated erev Shabbos kodesh Bereishis 5749,
HaRav Shach writes, "I thus address you, for all of you were
educated in yeshivos where there was a regular time each day
for learning works of mussar. It's importance is
summed up in the saying that just as it is impossible to see
without eyes and to walk without feet, it is also impossible
to live a Torah life without mussar study.

This was written and explained back then, to a wise and
understanding generation, when there were not so many
breaches in Klal Yisroel. To our dismay, [today] the
breaches are more than the fences and the need for
reinforcement is certainly all that much greater.

Over The Pillar Of Fire That Has Left Us -- Contemporary
Reports From The Time Of HaRav Yisroel Salanter's
Petiroh

Hamagid, 1st Adar 5643 (1883):

The Gaon Rav Yisroel Salanter Is No More

During the night of the twenty-fifth of Shevat the renowned
gaon . . . passed away at the age of seventy-two in
Koenigsburg. He was greatly honored in Koenigsburg, where he
had been living for several months. All our brethren thronged
there to accord him the final kindness. The great rov and
sage Dr. Hildesheimer [Reb Ezriel zt'l] rushed from
Berlin and eulogized him, calling for [general] mourning over
the petiroh of such an exalted man."

*

The issue of 28th Adar contains a report from Paris:

"On yom shelishi of parshas Tetzaveh, the
seventh of Adar Rishon, a gathering was held at minchah
time, to eulogize and bemoan this great man whom Heaven
took. His disciple, the gaon Rav Yehoshua Heschel
Levine ascended the bimoh and delivered a bitter
eulogy over the pillar of fire that has left us."

*

Der Israelit, 5643:

"We were informed by telegraph from Koenigsburg of the
dreadful tidings of the loss of one of the most outstanding
of the great [talmidei chachomim] in our times . . .
Rav Yisroel Salanter . . . who was summoned upon high last
night. All of Israel weeps over the great loss of this great
man."

*

Chavatzeles, Adar 5643:

Evil tidings are heard from Koenigsburg about the petiroh
there of the great gaon, the pious and humble one,
the perfect tzaddik . . . Rav Yisroel Lipkin
zt'l, who was commonly known as Rav Yisroel Salanter.
. . . HaRav Ezriel Hildesheimer of Berlin also went to
Koenigsburg to eulogize the late gaon. When news of
the calamity arrived here [Yerushalayim], multitudes gathered
in the beis hamedrash Menachem Tzion and . . . HaRav
Shmuel Salant eulogized the departed gaon and all who
were present wept copiously."

*

Hameilitz, 23rd Adar Rishon 5643:

"Thousands of eulogies have been held throughout the world
and all of Beis Yisroel has wept that which Hashem has
burned. In the Neviezer beis hamedrash in Kovno, the
gaon . . . HaRav Yitzchok Blazer held a great
hesped, attended by thousands of distinguished and
honorable residents of Kovno, Slobodka, Alexot and elsewhere.
HaRav Blazer delivered a bitter eulogy in a tearful voice. It
lasted for approximately four hours and the entire huge
assembly was in tears."

*

The Hebrew press devoted many articles to Rav Yisroel
Salanter zt'l. The elitist press also carried the news
and published articles of appreciation honoring him.

In Shaarei Tzion (Yerushalayim 5693 [1933]), we find
the following testimony: "One day, I was in Rav Shmuel
Salant's vosikin minyan in the Churvah of Rabbi
Yehuda Hechosid and he suddenly heard about the
petiroh of his friend and colleague Rav Yisroel. He
was shocked. He wept bitterly and he arranged for weeping and
eulogy in the beis hamedrash Menachem Tzion. He
hurried up onto the bimoh while the members of the
minyan were still there and he cried from his heart,
`The light of Yisroel has been extinguished!' He fell into a
swoon, in his great distress and was unable to say anything
else . . . "